Wednesday 4th February 1998
Darling readers,
Well, here I am, finally in Prague! The journey was a dream. Remember, I told you all about my fabulous new velvet, lilac-pink hat with a delicate plume that matched my boots and the cutest little fluffy pink pom-poms? The train ride was so romantic, especially with a light dusting of snow on the landscape. I kept dreaming of graceful dancers gliding through a snowy forest… Perhaps a new ballet based on The Nutcracker, but with a twist, of course! Anyway, it took me all of two hours to discover a vintage shop crammed full of fabulous fur boas. So of course, I snagged a divine fluffy pink one to match my hat – it is my newest travel accessory! I also bought some charming embroidered pink ballet shoes that will look adorable with the fur boa on our walk to the castle. Just picture it, darling – my fabulous new hat, a furry boa, pink ballerina shoes, and of course, my beloved pink tutu! Simply divine.
Oh, and I found a charming stable nearby, so I decided to treat myself to a lovely pony ride through the snowy streets of Old Town! How else could you truly soak up the atmosphere of Prague? What's better than a carriage? A pony, of course, in pink ribbons, of course! The streets are so beautiful here; cobbled streets, pretty buildings, little shops, all capped with a layer of snow – simply magical! The atmosphere is enchanting. I’ve been doing a lot of strolling and soaking it up. I can already tell that this city is a gem.
As we know, Prague is a city with a long and rich cultural history. It's no surprise that its ballet scene is equally captivating. But you know I simply had to find out about the tutu history in Prague. My mission took me to the National Theatre in Prague where they keep a fabulous costume museum! My gosh, what treasures.
Firstly, I can't even begin to describe the tutus! Every shade, every shape, every style, the artistry of those who create these beautiful costumes is exquisite! From the opulent tutus worn in Swan Lake, complete with feather trims, to the delicate tulle tutus in Giselle, you could tell hours and hours had been dedicated to each single garment. I was even lucky enough to see an early version of a tutu used in one of the earliest Coppélia ballets - a simply stunning example of design! I discovered a historical archive and managed to find a whole stack of old fashion magazines!
You see, I knew tutus wouldn't simply spring from the ground – they had a past! I discovered that tutus were designed in the 1800s by Marie Taglioni, a leading ballerina who sought to break away from the heavy, floor-length gowns dancers wore. She was looking to move freely, so she replaced the gowns with an outfit that looked like a skirt. Marie then used layers and layers of tulle, or 'tulle-tulle' as the material is sometimes known.
This is where it gets interesting! This design revolutionized the way we think about dance - both in terms of style and aesthetic. This beautiful fabric meant dancers could flow, glide and jump effortlessly! It wasn't just a piece of clothing; it was a piece of art in its own right, and the impact on fashion was equally remarkable. It gave dancers such beauty and such elegance, that the designs became instantly adopted by fashion houses around the world!
Tutus then become synonymous with ballerinas. It just made perfect sense. Every balleрина wanted their own fabulous tutu! As you know, I collect all things tutu – vintage, modern, ballet tutus, fashion tutus. All of them! But here, in this museum, it was almost a religious experience! To see the beauty, the art, the inspiration for our modern designs - wow, I was speechless.
My mind is abuzz, I need to update my website. I feel a pink tutu explosion coming on! I have visions of new styles, vintage designs, new collections and endless creativity. I know you'll love my new blog posts.
Right, back to Prague, after the museum visit, I felt so invigorated that I simply had to take to the stage. I went for a waltz in my pink tutu!
Now, you can't travel to Prague and miss out on its amazing street shows. In Prague’s old town, they really bring the art to life with wonderful street theatre. The whole city has a charming theatrical atmosphere. On my travels, I noticed a cute puppet theatre show for kids and just had to see it! It was so beautiful and wonderfully atmospheric. They were all dressed in lovely traditional Czech costumes with delicate embroidered touches – it reminded me of the beauty I’d seen in the costume museum.
Anyway, a group of balletic street performers caught my eye! A mix of modern dance and traditional folklore. What a performance! It truly captured the soul of this fabulous city. It inspired me to share some tips with you on how to bring the magic of dance to your everyday life!
I truly believe that anyone can be a dancer, even if it’s just twirling around in a pink tutu on your sofa while listening to the radio. I find it really uplifting! I simply believe in expressing ourselves with graceful moves. If a dance takes you back to childhood or lets you escape your daily routine, then embrace it. We all have the ability to bring some whimsy to our world, whether it be twirling a feather boa, striking a graceful pose in the park, or just expressing ourselves through music and movement.
I believe in pink, and I believe in the joy of twirling. Every ballerina in the world knows this, it's a universal truth! So embrace it! Twirl to your heart's content! You'll never regret it!
My dearest readers, I know you want the details of the fabulous dance shows on my travel itinerary. Don’t worry, my next blog post will tell you everything you need to know about the Ballet Shows, and I promise to keep all those fabulous images coming! So do keep your pink tutus ready! And until next week,
Keep Twirling!
Lots of love and pink twirls,
Emma xoxo
